Means for reducing the slanting to a side of pneumatically supported vehicles



Jm- 11 1944. B. BOULOGNE E-rAL 2,338,897

MEANS FOR REDUCING THE SLANTING T0 SIDES OF PNEUMATICALLY SUPPORTED VEHICLES Filed OCl'.. 12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l F/'ign n y #Linen/i014@ Jan. l1, 1944. B. BOULOGNE ETAL 2,338,897

MEANS FOR REDUGING THE SLANTI'NG TO SIDES oF PNEUMATICALLY SUPPORTED VEHICLES Filed Oct. 12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. l1, 1944. B. BOULOGNE ETAL 2,338,897

MEANS FOR REDUGING THE SLANTING' TO SIDES OF PNEUMATIGALLY SUPPORTED VEHICLES Filed Oct. .12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1@ /60 rE' da O -Zf 19, 17 @verzinnt ,4A/rana: A dname/vf BOULOGNE ET AL Jan. 11, 1944. B 2,338,897

MEANS FOR REDUCING THE SLANTING TO SIDES 0F PNEUMATICALLY SUPPORTED VEHICLES 12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct f Avro/wf /3 Jouve/v5 Patented Jan. 11, 1944 MEANS FOR REDUCING THE SLANTING T A SIDE 0F PNEUMATICALLY SUPPQRTED VEHICLES Baltus Boulogne and Antonie Pieter Boulogne,

Pengalengan, near Bandoeng, Java, Netherland East Indies; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application October 12. 1940. Serial No. 361,0

- In the Netherlands May 9.

6 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to an apparatus for reducing vehicle side sway. v

When an automobile or other vehicle is supported by highly resilient pneumatic shock ab sorbers, either instead of or in addition to steel springs, it will as a consequence of the strong centrifugal force when driving fast in a curve, slant to a side. I Therebythe pressure in the air cushion or cushions, which support that side of the car on the outer side of the curve, will be.,Y

automatically increased, while for the same reason the pressure decreases in the air cushion According to the'invention, an improvement "can be eilected here if, when taking a quick turn to the left, the air pressure is in some other way increased in one or more air cushions supporting at the same time the pressure in one or more -cushions which support the left side ofthe car (or part thereof) is decreased thus preventing slant to a side of the vehicle. When taking a turn to the rightsaid pressure alteration -must be reversed. Besides this alteration of pressure, one or more stabilizer bars and/or other devices may be used.

One of the objects of the vpresent invention" is to provide devices that will automatically reduce this lateral tilting or side sway under these conditions.

Further objects of the invention are to pror of operation of side sway preventing devices;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of a modiiled cylinder and piston construction usable in place of the cylinder and piston construction of Fig. l for varying ther pressure in pneumatic spring devices supporting the sides of the vehicle;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view in lateral section of a vehicle showing an embodiment of the present invention for differentially regulating the pressure in the pneumatic supporting means on one side oi' the vehicle relatively to those on the other side; l

' Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cylinder V casings shown in Fig. 3:

rig. 5 n a view in vertical muon tekenen line 8 8' of Fig. 4: Fig. 6 is` a fragmentary view inyertical transverse section taken on line I--I ol Fis. 4t

. Fig. 'l' is a view in vertical transverse sectionl taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 4;

lig.A 8 is a view in lateral elevation of the valve housing connecting the ends of the cylinder casor cushions supportingthe other side of the. car. 11188 the right side of the car (or part thereof), and 'A feo- ' Fig. 9 is a view in central vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 8:

Fig. 10 is a view in end elevation of the structure'shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is s view m hammam section men on A the line II--II of Fig. 8, the ber being removed:

Fig. 12 is an emerged ditic view in central valve memy section of the casing members shown in Fig. 11

with the central valve member:

- Fig.`13 is an emerged view in'section of the valve member shown in Fig. 11,'with .its easing shown diagrammatically to facilitate reference to the various channels and ports:

' l fFigs. 14 and 15 are views in side elevation and vin pian. respectively. of a structure constituting a second embodiment oi' pressure regulating l means in accordance with the present invention,

the details of such structure being further shown in Figs. 16 to 31, inclusive;

Fig. 16 is a view in section-taken on the line il-i oi' Fig. 19;

Fig. 17 is a view in section taken on the line il-ll of Fig. 18:

Fig. 18 is a view in end elevation as seen from the left-hand end o! Fig. 14;

Fig. 19 is a. viewV similar to Fig. 18, but with the cover plate removed;

Figs. 20 to 29 areviews invertical section y looking toward the right and taken. respectively, on lines 28-20, l-li, 22--22, 2l- 23, 24 v44, !l-28, -2l, zl-IL M n n of Fig. 16.

Fig. 30 is an enlarged view in section oi' one of the sliding valve members located as shown in Fig. 18. certain of the ports and channels cooperating therewith being shown in dotted lines; and

Fig. 3l is a diagrammatic view showing vthe various sliding valves and their connections.

Fig. l shows diagrammatically a typical arrangement for alteration of the pressure in movable walled air-filled containers i supporting a "suction chamber."

with respect to the car 2, such likey containers hereinafter to be called bearers."

When in making a turn` centrifugal -force acts upon the body I o! the car, and. consequently,

When the piston moves air flows out of the compression chamber into the bearer supporting the car on the outer side of the curve, whilev some air out oi' the bearer that supports the car on the inner side or the curve, iiows into the suction chamber. When the car comesout of the curve,- the slingert and piston 4 again assume 4 their normal positions and the original pressure in the bearers is regained. 1

sven if innumera placed in une front psi-t.

ci' the car-(to get it-to operate quiokerl.' the slinger will not come into action before the body g of the car is somewhat Aunder the influence of centrifugal force.

Themovement of the piston I by a' slinger demande so much power that a very large and heavy slinger is needed. 4It is therefore preferable that vsaid pistonis not moved directly by the slinger, but by some arrangement electrically. hydrau- 'Iicalimpneumatioallyor otherwise operated and activated by aslinger means..

'l Ifapistonland cyIindenconstructedas-sho Jin Fig. 1, beused:` while when making a turn i sumcient increase'in pressure is obtained in the outer bearer (i. e., the bearer on the outer side of the curve); a suiiicient decrease in pressure will i not yet have been reached in the inner bearer,

and consequently the car will still slant over to the outer side of the curve. In order that a suiiicient decrease can take place in the inner bearer, the volume ofthe stroke of the piston decreasing the pressure in lthe inner bearer can be in-a certain proportion'to the volume of the Vstroke increasingv the pressure in' the outer.

f The same result is` obtainable if in'cl'ecreasing` the pressure in the innerbearer a part of the as both aforementioned factorsthe centrifugal force acting upon the slinger and a slanting of the car body-are present and co-operate for that purpose.

Fig. 2 shows a cylinder wherein two pistons, l and l, are inserted. serving for alteration oi' the pressure in a bearer connected to tube Ill. This bearer. by means of the openings I I and I2, is in communication with the inner of the cylinder, and further, by means of an opening I3, an annular groove Il in the piston 8 and an opening II in communication with an auxiliary chamber I6. Due to the pressure in the cylinder said piston l is pressed against the link I1. When piston 0 is pressed farther into the cylinder by the link I1. only the air in chamber I8, or a part thereof, will be pressed into the bearer through the opening I2 and tube III, while the air in chamber Il is not compressed due to opening I5 being then covered by the piston-I. When the link I1, moving in a reversed direction, allows the piston l also to move in that direction. piston 9 will iollow this movement and thereby cover opening II, so that no alteration of pressure takes place in the chambers Il and Il. The air flowing from the bearerA 'through opening IIA will fill up the enlarging space between piston l and the cylinder bottom,

.so that the pressure in the bearer will decrease.

For lubrication and sealing of the pistons oilcan` be supplied under pressure to an annular groove in the piston, andv this can be so arranged that when, for instance, piston l moves the channels Il and Il are covered. Y

The volume of the aforementioned air chainbers I0 and- Il can be fixed acoordingto anydesired4 degree of suspension resiliency.

. Fig. 3 shows a structure embodying the pres-. ent invention. for regulating oi' the pressure 'inl-` four bearers. The apparatus comprises two cyl@A inder casings 'lll and Il with pistons whichv can be moved by means of compressed air sup." .A plied from a reservoir or pump (not shownlff The sliding valve 2l regulates the admission and .A discharge olcompressed sir serving for displacement of the pistons. When under iniluence of" lcentrifugal force the slinger I is moved to a side,

. body of the car slants to a side in relation to air communicating therewith-can be shut ofi' in' y a separate space in such a way that this part'of the air cannot expand Valong with the expanding. air of said bearer. y

It is also possible when increasing the pressure in the outer bearer to shut ci! a part of the air communicating therewith in such a wey that the pressure oi' this part of air is not increased.

In order to minimize the size of the equipment, a slight slanting of the car when making a sharp turn at great speed is permissible. Buch slanting, however, will only occur in very exceptional The regulation of the pressure-changes by means of the slinger can befurther controlled by a mechanism activated by a possible slanting of the car body in relation to the axles, so that even if the centrifugal force acting thereon keeps the slinger to a side, no further alteration oi' the pressure in the bearers will take place after the body of the car has regained the desired .position axles. For this purpose the equipment can be so constructed that the pressure alteration only takes place when and as long 15 y the sliding valve il is moved by the lever ".1 'The yarm 21 turnably-'oonneeted tothe body of Q the car is by means of the rods Il and 2l 'confy nected to e. axle III of the car, so that when `the the Aaxle Il, the arm 21 changes its position in relation to the body of the car.

' when the body of the car slants to a side the arm 21 will by means of the spring device )i/ and the lever 2l displace the sliding valve 25.

When ln making a turn the pistons in one of the cylinder casings (400 or 0) are'moved to alter-the pressure in the four bearers, a slid-v ing valve 11 cuts oi! communication between these bearers and the other cylinder casing.

"Ihe dimensions o( the piston surfaces and of the compression and suction chambers have here been so iixed in relation to each other that an increase -ofthe pressure in the outer bearers can take place in the proper proportion to the decrease of the pressure in the inner bearers.

Material for lubrication and sealing of the pistons, can be tapped oi! from the lower part oi a compressed air reservoir and led into an annular groove 5B through a channel 55 Fig. 5, whence a channel 51 leads it on to other annular grooves. When said pistons move the channels 6B and 51 are covered, so that an ex- COIiseqUently cess oi' lubricating material cannot tlow into the cylinders.

'I'he chambers 14', 14, 15', and 15, Figs. 4, and 7, are suction chambers. p

The chambers 12', 12", 13 and 13", Figs. 4 and 5, are compression chambers.

The pistons 89 and 10 are hollow, and the spaces therein communicate with the compression chambers 12 and 13', respectively, through the orices 1| when these pistons are in their resting position, as drawn. As soon as the pistons are moved said orices are covered by the cylinder wall, so that the air in the hollow pistons is not compressed and only the air in the compression chambers, or a part thereof, is pressed into the bearers.

Compression chamber 13 Voi cylinder casing 400, communicates with the suction chamber 15 of cylinder casing l via canal 02', sliding valve 11 and canal 83".

The bearer Il supporting the right side of the car, being connected to the flange 8| o! the sliding yvalve housing, is thus in communication with the compression chamber 13 of 400 and withl the air in the hollow piston 1I, as well as with the air in the suction chamber 15 of 0.

-valve housing, and. communicates with the other compression chamber 12 in 400 through canal 1l and withthe other suction chamber 14" in l through canal 1l". The bearers supportanges Il and Il. .f

Fig. 12'bein`g on an enlarged scalemskes clear 35,

` [the above description.' f

-Aslong as no alteration ofthe pressure in the bearers is desired, air pressure must be` maintained in the chambers to keep the pistons in4 their resting position while the chambers 08 are under atmospheric pressure.

When making a turn to the right, the air'pressure extending in chamber .16 of cylinder cas'- 86 of the same cylinder casing. This air ilowing through opening Iv-and v' canal Il enters into space I0 and will by moving of the sliding valve11 shut o!! the canals 19', 82 and I3', so that the communications with cylinder -casing 400 are cutoff. The air admitted into chamber Il of cylinder casing!" will displace the pistons inserted in .this cylinder casing and causes enlarging ofthe l suction chamber 18".

A part of the air present in the right bearer 3l then flows through pipe 30 out of the bearer Il into said suction chamber so that the pressure in the right bearer l5 is decreased.

At the same time the pressure in the-other right bearer too must be decreased and for that purpose this bearer is connected to ilange l0 and communicates with suction chamber 14" through canal 10". f

vEach of the bearers supporting the left side of the car is connected to one of the flanges Il and l5.

In making a turn to the left, the pistons in the cylinder casing 400 move, and communication is cut ofi' between the bearers and the cylinder casing 0.

When driving `straight ahead the sliding valve 11 is in its middle position, so that each oi' the four bearers is in communication with a compression chamber of one cylinder casing, and with a suction chamber of the other cylinder casing, thus the air 4cushionof each bearer is in communication with the air in one compres- 'sion chamber and the air in one hollow piston of one cylinder casing, and also with the air in one suction chamber of the other cylinder casing.

When the pistons in the cylinder casing 400 move, a pressure decrease takes place in the two separate suction chambers 14 and 15 of this cylinder casing, while in the two separate compression chambers 12" and 13 of this cylinder casing a pressure increase takes place. The compression chambers then remain in communication with the bearers on the outer side of the curve, while the suction chambers remain in communication with the inner bearers.

Instead oi' in sliding valves (such as 11) grooves, excavations or the like may be made in the pistons for cutting on' and reestablishing communications by displacements of the pistons.

, by pressure in chamber Iis put in communication with. chamber 80, so

' Another bearer, also supporting-the right side of the car, is connected to flange l0 oi' the sliding ing 0 must be discharged and compressed air must be led into chamber The pistons are kept in their resting position 10.v When chamber 1l that a part of theair from the former (10) flows rover into the latter (06),' the pistons move a part of their way.r For the purpose of bringing the pistons to the end of their stroke, it is however necessary that the airfrom 16 be discharged and new compressed air be supplied to chamber Il.

` To bring the pistons back to their resting positionthe sliding valve 25 by again bringing 86 into ling the'v left side of the car are connectedto the v communicationwith 16, in a similar way jallows a part of the compressed air to dow out of compressed air. v To make possible this flow over 'oi'.air there are built into Ithe sliding valve 25 two'bodies Il, each. of which-is partly a sliding valve and partly an ordinary valve.

In Fig. ,13 one of these bodies 88 is shown in view with the ordinary valve closed, and the other in section with the ordinary valve open.

If in making a turn the centrifugal force makes this desirable, the sliding valve 25 is so moved that those pistonsare displaced which vare able to increase the pressure in the bearers supporting the car on the outer side of the curve.

The canals 00 serve for admission and discharge of compressed air to and from the chambers 10, while the canal serves for the supply of compressed air from, for instance, a reservoir. This arrangement operates as follows: When the sliding valve 20 is in the middle position chambers 1l are under pressure and the pistons .are thereby kept in their resting position. In

order to avoid unnecessary consumption of compressed air and to allow only sufiicient air to .pass into chamber 1I (to keep the pistons in their resting position) air is tapped oil' from canal by means oi' a pressure reduction valve 92 and led into a canal 91. 'Ihe pressure in said canal 01 is thus lower than that in 96 and this canal 01 is in communication with the canals 98 in the sliding valve 25' when the pistons are in. the resting position (middle position of 25). Each canal. always remains in communication with a wide groove 89 in 80, which groove, when the ordinary valve of 88 rests against its seat, communicates kwith a groove |00 in the sliding valve 25.` Groove |00 in communication with a canal lill in the sliding valve 25. When the sliding valve 25 is in its middle position canal |0| is'in communication lwith chamber 16 through a groove |02 and the canals |03 and 95, so that the air in both chambers 16 is of the pressure as reduced by 92. 'I'his same pressure is then also present in the canals and |05, and the two bodies 99 in the sliding valve 25 are then in such a position. due to action of their springs, that their ordinary valves are closed.

When now in making a turn the sliding valve 25 is suillciently displaced, one of the canals |03 is covered by it, so that the pressure in the chamber l5 which communicates with that canal remains unchanged. While at the other end of the sliding valve 25 the groove ||3 comes into communication with the canal 9|, so that the air pressure extending in space 00 will escape out of this space into chamber 00. At the same time the canal |05 has come into communication with the space H0 bordering on the valve of 85 the pressure or air coming from |05 into ||9 opens this valve and the compressed air will ilow out of chamber 10 through 95. |04, |05, IIE, |0|, ||3 and 9| into chamber 90. During this overflow the canal |91 is covered by the body 39 so that during that time no air is discharged |03. vAlso the groove III being covered by the vout of chamber 1l through Il, |03, |00, |01 and take place from canal 95 through ||2. 90, 99 and |00 into chamber Il, but as soon as the pressure pressurel is built up in chamber 09 and the airl is flowing out oi' chamber 13 so that the pistons assess? `ment of the slinger is limited to fixed points, the

displacement of valve 25 is still insufllcient to cause a pressure alteration, but as soon as arm 21 changes position due to a commencement of slanting of the car body with respect to the axle, the sliding valve 25 consequently mves a little further and alteration of pressure will takeI place causing the car to regain its correct position with respect to the axle. The arm 21 then returns to its original position and the sliding valve again moves back to the position where no or no iurther pressure alteration inthe bearers takes place and the car body remains in the desired position. Thereafter, as soon as the car comes out of the curve, the slinger returns to its original position, the sliding valve goes back to its middle position and the original pressure in the bearers will be regained. The arm 21 is connected to the lever by an interposed spring device and the movement oi this is also limited to ilxed points.

In order to make easy the displacements of the sliding valve 25 and body 0l, a plurality of move and the pressure in the, bearers is altering.`

As soon as sufilcient alteration of pressure is obtained in the bearers and the sliding valve is moved back somewhat, no further entry or exit of air in the chambers 19 and 86 takes place,

and the pressure reached in the bearers is thus canal's93 and |01 are made in the circumference of the sliding valve 25. l In the modied arrangement and structur shown in Figs. 14 to 31 only one cylinder casing i5 utilized in which the pistons are moved. When centrifugal i'orce acting upon the slinger from retained until the position of the sliding valve f is lltcred.

Y when the` 'groove'm '1s 1n @meer Wahine.,4

canal 9| the pressure extending in 9| isalso being then shut oi by the sliding valve 25. When tion due uto the car coming out Yor the' curve.

- present inthe canals ||0 and H5, the latter canal` H5, which `v connects with chamber 08, is

I 05 comes into contact with canal 0|, the latvter connection takes place when valve 99 has already been moved (in 25'), and covers canal |01 and groove |00. The ordinary valve oi bod'l` 8l opened by the pressure in space ill allows compressed air to pass from chamber 90 through 9|, Hl, ||5 and Hiinto canal |0| and thence through the groovel |l2,-through |03 and 95 into chamber 13. v

Inasmuch as" whenits valve is the groove |00 (thus pressure cannot tlow from 99 into |0| and space 90), this valve will be closed by its spring only when the pressure in the chambers 00 and 15 is approximately the same. By the closing of this valve the groove |00 comes into communication with the wide groove 99 and new compressed air owlng through 99, 91, 98. 99, |00, |0I, |02, |03 and 95 enters The Space ||0 opened covers bearers Irom remaining in the cylinder'4 casing lleft to right displaces the sliding valve III (to move the pistons), each ofthe sliding valves ||3 and ||9 will be moved in a certain direction, and when the sliding valve ||1 is displaced y in a reversed direction,- the movement of the the left, the bearers will, by means of the sliding valves ||3 and H9, be so connected that the outer bearers are in communication with the compression chambers, while the inner bearers y communicate with the suction chambers.

- In 'orderto prevent a part of the air from the when the connections to the bearers are changed.

Y tion with canal I i5, and |02 with |03, than groove the compression and suction chambers in the" cylinder casing are filled with oil. It a pressure increase-is desired in one of the bearers. oil com- Y u .The space between the tubular housing wherein the cylinder casing is located and this cylinder casing is divided into four compartments by the walls |20, |2| and |22, while a wall |23 across tity of oil used is such that when the pistons are f excavations |29.

in their resting position (as shown in Fig. 17) not alone is the cylinder casing quite full, but each of the four upper compartments is also iilled to such an extent that the sliding valves ||8 and ||9 and the canals |24 adjoining them remain below the level of the oil (as shown in Fig. 22). Each of the four bearers is connected to a canal |26 and a canal |21 by means of a iiange |25 which has an excavation in it for the purpose of communication.

By means of canals |26 each of the bearers is in communication with one of the grooves |28 in the housings of the sliding valves ||8 and ||9, while, furthermore, the bearers individually are connected by means of a canal |21 with one of the Opposite these excavations in the housings of the sliding valves similar excavations |30 are located, each of which is connected to a pipe |3|, When the pistons are in their resting position the canal |32 is in communication with the canal4 |24 by means of the canal |33, this canal |33 being at that moment connected by the excavation |34 and the wide groove |35 with the oppositely located excavation |36. Consequently,

' |32, |33, |34, |35, |38 and |24 connect an upper compartment with one below. Furthermore, inasmuch as (with the piston in the resting position) the wide groove |35 connects the excavations |29, |30, |34 and |36 to each other, the canal |32 and the canal |35 are connected with the pipe |3| and the canal |21. Consequently, along that path too an upper and a lower compartment communicate with each other, and by means of a iiange |25 lon canal |21 are connected to one of the bearers. The air ilowing back and forth through these canals will bring any oil which rmay have accumulated in the lower compartment back to the upper compartment. Thus there will be practically no oil in the lower compartments, and with the pistons in the resting position each of these connect with the compartment above it. Each of these compartments is then connected by means of a pipe |3|, an excavation |30, a wide groove |35, an excavation |29, -a canal |21 and a flange |25 to one of the bearers. When the pistons are in their resting position, as shown in Fig. 17, the sliding valves ||8 and ||9 being in their middle position keep the ports |31 and |38 closed.V lilithe;` before or at the same time as the pistons are moved, both sliding valves 8 and I9 are displaced to the full extent of their stroke in opposite directions to each other. f

By means of a. canal |40 the port |31 is con-l nected to the compression chamber |39 in order to allow oil to :dow from said compression chamber into one of the upperl compartments (so as to increase the pressure in one of the bearers) when the sliding valves ||8 and ||9 are movedfrom their middle position. A canal |4| connects the port |38 to the compression chamber |42, so that at the same time oil can flow from this compression chamber to another upper compartment.

The suction chamber |43 of the cylinder casing, by means of a canal |44, is in communication with a groove |45 located in thel housing of sliding valve ||8, while the suction chamber |46 is provided with an excavation |41 (Fig. 25) which connects with the groove |48 in the housing of sliding valve ||9. When the sliding valves ||8 and |9 are in their middle positions, the compression chambers of the cylinder casing, as'well as the suction chambers, do not communicate with any of the compartments or bearers.

When by the action of the slinger the sliding valve ||1 moves in a certain direction and the sliding valve 8 goes to the right and the pistons move, the wide annular groove. |49 in this latter sliding Valve then connects the port |31 with the port |50, so that oil from the compression chamber |39 ispressed through |40, |31, |49 and |50 into the upper compartment |5 The pressure in this compartment is thereby increased and consequently the pressure in the outer bearer communicating therewith through |3|, |30, |35, |29, 21 and |25 will also increase.

At the same time, the other sliding valve (I I9) being displaced to the left, oil is pressed from compression Ychamber |42`through |4|, |38 and |52 into the upper compartment |53, whereby the pressure in the bearer connected to this` compartment |53 is increased.

The displacement of sliding valve ||8 to the right, as already mentioned, causes connection to be made between a groove |54 inl said sliding valve and a groove |45 (which is connected by the canal |44 to the suction chamber |43). By means of space |55, which connects with grooves |54 and |56, the groove |54 is brought into connection with one of the canals |26. Communication is thus established between |43 and said canal |26, and the pressure decrease taking place in |43 causes also a decrease in pressure in the inner bearer connected to that canal (|26) by means of one of the flanges |25 (not shown here). The canal |21 (which is connected by means of a iiang'e |25 with aforementioned canal |26) being closed by the sliding valve ||8, the decrease of pressure in the suction chamber 43 cannot cause a pressure decrease in a upper compartment, so that the decrease of pressure caused in the suction chamber |43 is confined solely to an inner bearer, said suction chamber and bearer being in communication with each other through |44, |45, |54, |55, |56, |26 and a ilange |25.

In a similar manner, the suction chamber |46 which communicates with the fourth bearer by means of |41 and |48 and through the hollow of the other sliding valve (H9) causes a pressure decrease in that bearer. Consequently, when the pistons are displaced from their resting position the pressure in two of the `bearers increases and that in the other two decreases, while depending upon the direction in which the sliding .valve l1 is displaced (to bring the pistons into'action) the displacement of sliding valves ||8 and ||9 takes place either to the right and left, or to the left and right.

In order that the sliding valves ||8 and' ||9 be kept exactly in their mean position when driving straight ahead, and to prevent shocks, the spring devices |51 are included which are provided with small air cushions.

When the pistons are in their resting position and thesliding valve |1 is in its middle position, the chamber |58 is always under such pressure that the pistons are kept in the position as shown.

Activated, for instance, by a slinger, the sliding valve operates in approximately the same manner as the sliding valve of Fig. 13. This sliding valve ||1 (Fig. 31) regulates the passage of compressed air to and from chambers |58 and |6| through |59 and |60, respectively. According as the car turns to the right'or to the left, sliding valve ||1 admits compressed air into canal |62 or canal |53, whereby the sliding valves ||8 and ||9 then attain such a position that the bearers are brought into communication properly with the compression and suction chambers in the cylinder casing as required for the direction of the turn.

When after its displacement the sliding valve ||1 returns to its middle position, the canals |62 and |63 are covered by it and no air can flow back; thus the sliding valves ||8 and ||9 are not yet able to return to their middle position, but activated by the spring device |51 they will do so as soon as the pistons again attain their resting position because the canals |64 and |65 are then uncovered and communicate' with the chamber |61 from which discharge takes place. The compression chambers |36 and |42 are then again entirely lled up with oil.

In order to obtain quick displacement of the sliding valves ||8 and H9, the canals |62 and |63, which admit compressed air, are in comparison with th channels |66 of larger cross sec tion, so that only a small part of the air supplied through |62 or |63 can escape.

To obtain a quick discharge of the air, which has served for displacement of the sliding valves ||8 and ||9 a canal |61 is so located that at the commencement of the discharge the outilowing air meets with practically no resistance.

In order that the two factors previously mentioned--centrifugal force and the commencement of slanting to .a side-may co-operate with each other in the alteration of lthe pressure in the bearers, a second slide valve member |68 is. included in the housing of sliding valve ||1. sliding valve ||1 is moved by the slinger 3 and sliding valve |66 is activated by the slant to a side of the body of the car.

To keep the pistons in their resting position when driving straight ahead compressed air is brought to the required pressure by a reduction valve |69, and through a canal and a groove |1l led into the sliding valve ||1 and further into chamber |66 through canal |59, while compressed air (not reduced in pressure) reaches a wide groove |13 in this sliding valve ||1 through a canal |12. When ||1 moves to the right or to the left, said compressed air will ilow from |13 into |62 or |63 and reach the groove |11 in sliding valve |68 throughJ14 or |16 and through |16.

If now the aforesaid factors-#centrifugal force 4and slanting toy a sidecooperate, so that the two valves ||1 and |68 are displaced towards each other and the air supply through |10 and |1| is thereby cut olf, compressed air (not reduced in pressure) from |12 will, through |13, |14, |16, |11 and |18, reach the groove |1|, and thence through the inner spaces of the sliding valve ||1 and through canal |60 ow into chamber |6I.

The air supply through |10 and |1| is also cut olf if due to the aforesaid factors the two valves ||1 and |68 be displaced away from each other, in which case compressed air (not reduced in pressure) will reach the groove. |1| through |18, |15, |16, |11 and |19, and thence flow into chamber |6| through canal |60.

As soon thereafter as one of the co-operating factors already referred to ceases to exist, so that one of the sliding valves ||1 or |68 has returned .near to its middle position, the aforementioned supply of compressed air is cut off.

If in'rnaking a sharp turn when driving fast adequate alteration of pressure has taken place in the bearers, the car will, whenfor instance its speed is reduced, begin to slant towards the inner side of the curve. Sliding valve |68 will then be moved towards the side opposite to that in which it cooperates with the sliding valve |I1 which is displaced by the slinger. Sliding valve |68 will in that position, without necessitating any change in the position of |1, then allow the air flowing back from chamber |6| to escape through the sliding valve ||1 and one of the canals |18 or |18 until the alteration in pressure is reduced in extent asrequired.

In order that such escape of air may take place gradually and not suddenly, the ends of the canals |18 and |19, near the valve |68, are of a special shape.

In order that a sufcient quantityof oil can always be maintained inthe cylinder casing and in the compartmentsr above it, the spacesv|66 in the hollow sliding valves |8fand ||3 can be of large volume and function as follows: When the sliding valves ||8 and ||9 are in the middle posiunder pressure, communicates with the groove |54 which groove is in communication with the space |55. Each time the sliding valve is inthe middle position the compressed air in space |66 2;, is thus further compressed by the oil flowing from canal |80, so that said space |66` is partly filled with oil, and when alternately making turns to the right and to the left; this oil, when repeatedly flowing out of the spaces |66 of sliding valves H8 and H9, is divided between the four upper compartments. Any excess of oil reaching these compartments will escape into the bearers and from there be discharged.

Canals andports from which oil iiows out of the cylinder casing into the air compartments and back can in different ways be 'so shaped andlocated that no air bubbles' are conveyed along with the oil flowing back into the cylindercas- Y more rollers or'balls moving along a fixed path.A

or a liquid such as, for example, mercury, can be used to activate the equipment serving for alteration of the pressure in the bearers.`

It is also evident that various changes, modiflcations, variations and substitutions might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the' invention.

I claim: l. In a vehicle' provided with suspension means comprising expansible shock. absorber chambers, the combination of a regulator effective to vary the effective volumevof said shock absorber chamberscomprising vcylinders each having therein a pair of. pistons having a lost motion connection e0 therebetween, said pistonsA and cylinder dening an auxiliary chamber normally connected to its respective shock absorber chamber, means for moving said pistons in unison in one direction and connections .controlled by lone of said pistons to control communication between said auxiliary chamber and its respective shock absorber chamber.

2. In a vehicle provided -with suspension means comprising expansible shock absorber chambers, the combination of cylinders each cooperating respectively with one of said shock absorbers and containing two pistonsghavi'ng a lost motion connection therebetween whereby they move in unison in one direction but the first of said pis tons can move in the other direction independtion, a channel |80, through which oil is supplied assess? ently o! motion of the second piston, said cylinder and pistons denning a iirst auxiliary chamber between said pistons and a second auxiliary chamber between the end ci one piston and the end of the cylinder, connections between said first auxiliary chamber and its respective shock absorber chamber controlled by the position of said second piston, and means for moving said pistons.

3. In a vehicle provided with suspension means comprising shock absorbers each having a chamber therein with a movable wail and containing a fluid under pressure, the combination of a regulating device operable to alter the eii'ectiveness of said shock absorbers comprising a air of cylinders each having therein a pair of istons, said cylinders and pistons defining compression chambers and suction chambers.' valve means and connections controlled by said valve means to control communication between a suction chamber o1' one rcylinder and a compression chamber of the other cylinder and to establish and cut of! communication from the compression chambers and suction chambers to said shockabsorber chambers.

4. In a vehicle provided with suspension means comprising shock absorbers each having a cham,- ber therein with a movable wall and containing a fluid under pressure, the combination of a regulating device operable to alter the effectiveness of said shock absorbers, comprising a cylinder casing having therein a plurality of pistons defining with said cylinder casing and with each other a plurality of auxiliary compression and suction chambers, conduits connecting said shock absorber chambers to various of said cylinder casing chambers, said connections being subject to control by movement of 'said pistons to establish and cut off communication between various of said suction chambers and said shock absorber ,chambersv and between various of said compression chambers and said shock absorber chambers, and means for moving said pistons.

B. In a vehicle provided with suspension means comprising shock absorbers each having a chamber therein with a movable wall and containing a i'iuid under pressure, the combination of a regulating device operable to alter the eiiectiveness of each of said shock absorbers in supporting said vehicle to minimize tilting of said vehicle when turning, comprising a cylinder casing havingtherein a plurality o! pistons denning withsaid cylinder casing and with each other a plurality of suction chambers and compression chambers, conduits normally connecting said shock absorber chambers to various of said suction chambers and compression chambers, said suction chambers and compression chambers be ing illled with liquid when said vehicle is moving in a straight path, means operable by movement of said pistons to vary the connections from said shock absorber chambers to said suction chambers and compression chambers, and means operable to move said pistons when said vehicle turns from a straight path.

6. In a vehicle provided with suspension means comprising shock absorbers each having a chamber therein vwith a movable wall and containing a uid under pressure, the combination of a regulating device operable to alter the effectiveness of said shock absorbers, comprising a structure having therein a. plurality of auxiliary chambers, certain of said auxiliary chambers being normany in communication with various oi said shock absorber chambers, means operable tofvary the effective volume of said auxiliary chambers, and means operable upon a change in direction of travel oi' said vehicle to actuate said last-mentioned means and to alter the connections of said chambers to said shock absorber chambers.

BALTUS BOULOGNE.

ANTONIE PIETER. BOULOGNE. 

